Washing device



Dec. 21, 1954 5, THOMAS 2,697,341

WASHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1951 United States Patent Ofiice 2,697,341Patented Dec. 21, 1954 WASHING DEVICE Albert G. Thomas, Lynchburg, Va.

Application January 27, 1951, Serial No. 208,110

1 Claim. cits-20s This invention relates to washing devices and hasparticular reference to a novel diaper washer.

In washing soiled baby diapers many mothers object to the disagreeabletask of washing the diapers by hand, in the commode or elsewhere. Thisunsanitary, untidy practice has long been an unpleasant necessity. It istherefore a principal object of this invention to provide a simple,inexpensive washing device for cleaning baby diapers quickly andefliciently without the necessity of soiling the hands.

Another object is to provide a relatively cheap, easily handled diaperwasher which can be readily manipulated.

A further object is to provide a diaper washer with a cover having atleast a transparent portion through which the washing operation can beviewed.

An additional object is to provide a diaper washer with a cover that maybe slippedback on a shower hose when desired.

A further object is to provide a diaper washer in which adiaper-supporting turntable is rotated beneath a spray by the force ofthe water.

A still further object is to provide a diaper washer in which a rotarysprinkler or spray head is revolved by reaction of issuing streams ofwater.

Other objects will appear in the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure l is a part sectional elevation of the diaper washer, showing ashower spray head, connected tubing, and a screen or apertured disc forsupporting diapers.

Figure 2 is a part sectional elevation of a diaper washer having arotary, apertured turntable for supporting diapers.

Figure 3 is a part sectional elevation of a cover for a diaper washer,the cover carrying a rotatable reaction type spray device.

In Figure 1, casing 1 is cylindrical but may be oblong, eliptical or anysuitable shape. It may be made of aluminum, tinplate, galvanized iron orsteel, or of plastic or other material and is preferably from 28 to 30gauge in weight. Bottom 2 is seamed, soldered, or otherwise fastened tothe cylindrical wall of casing 1 and slopes toward central drain opening3 therein, having surrounding lip or spout 4 to direct flow of waterdownward.

Disc 5, of thin metal, wire, plastic or the like, has apertures 6preferably from 1 to 4 square inches in area and of any suitable shapesuch a round, square, oblong or the equivalent. Legs 7 are preferablyturned down at right angles to the plane of disc 5, out of the samematerial. Feet 8 are bent inward out of the material of legs 7 so thatthe apertured disc is supported a suitable distance above bottom 2, thefeet 8 resting on the bottom. There are preferably 4 legs and associatedfeet.

Cylindrical cover 9 has rim 10 which may be tucked as at 11 to avoid asharp edge. Casing 1 may similarly be tucked as at 12. Cover 9 has arelatively large central circular opening 13 which is covered underneathby transparent disc 14 of clear plastic such as cellulose acetate,methyl methacrylate or other suitable material. Rivets 15 passingthrough suitable holes in the cover and plastic disc, are used to fastenthem together. Central hole 16 in the plastic disc is provided so thatrubber tube 17 of smaller diameter placed therethrough and carryingspray head 18 may be adjusted at various angles to direct water issuingfrom the spray head against a diaper supported on disc 5. The other endof tube 17 has attached rubber flared sleeve 19 for connecting theshower spray to a faucet.

In use, the device, which may be called a diaper shower, is placed upona commode, and rubber sleeve or connector 19 is slipped over a bathtubeor other water faucet. Cover 9 is lifted and a diaper, preferably soiledside up, is spread out on apertured disc 5 and then the cover isreplaced and the water faucet is opened so that a strong water sprayissues from perforated spray head This spray can be manipulated anddirected by manually adjusting tube 17 at various angles so that allparts of the diaper are washed relatively clean. If

there are folds in the diaper the cover can be slipped back on tube 17and one hand can be used to re-arrange the diaper. By slipping the coverback the spray head can be moved freely above the diaper, reaching allparts, at close range if desired. In this case the flow of water can bereduced if spattering occurs. The flowing water and debris pass throughopening 3 and into the commode.

In cleaning the diaper by means of the shower as described, it ishelpful if a little powdered soap is sprinkled over the diaper. Whilethis device is intended primarily as a preliminary washer, beforesending the diapers out for further laundering, I have found that inmany cases the cleansing action is good enough to obviate the neces sityfor additional laundering. After the washing operation is finished thediaper is removed, the commode is flushed and the device is stored in acorner or elsewhere until needed again. The device is self-cleaning, dueto the flowing water, and needs little attention.

By means of this washer, diapers-can be cleaned more quickly thanformerly, and it is not necessary to soil the hands as in the past. Thediapers. can be grasped by clean portions in handling them and inre-arranging them as described. While its use for diapers is depicted,the washer can be employed also for cleaning other clothes, or otherobjects. For instance, a dish washer based upon principles describedcould be made.

In Figure 2, a modified washing device is shown. In this case, centralopening 13 of cover 9 is overlapped by solid transparent disc 14a ofplastic material or the like. Closed-end pipe 20, having flange 21, ispassed through an opening in the vertical cylindrical wall of casing 1and is clamped in horizontal position, as shown, by nut 22 screwed ontothe threaded end of pipe 20. A suitable rubber tube can be slipped overthe threaded end of the pipe to supply water thereto. This pipe extendsapproximately to the center of the casing and has holes 23 thereinarranged to discharge jets of water downward and at an angle so thatapertured turntable 5a will be revolved by the force of the streams ofwater striking it. This turntable has apertures 6a and is attached atits center to stub shaft 24 which is freely rotatable in bearing 25about a vertical axis. This bearing is seen endwise and is integral withan arm extending from ears 26 which are bolted to the vertical wall ofcasing 1.

In use, connected rubber tube 17, shown in fragmentary manner, isconnected to a water faucet and a soiled diaper is spread over disc 5a,the rim 26a preventing the diaper from rubbing against the casing. Thencover 9 is placed over the device and the water is turned on, afterplacing the washer on a commode. The jets of water flowing from openingsor orifices 23 strike the diaper and wash it, at the same time causingthe diaper and supporting turntable to be revolved so that all parts arecleaned. If desired, another pipe similar to pipe 20 could be arrangedbeneath the turntable so that upward-directed jets of water would assistin the cleansing and rotating action.

This modification of the invention has the advantage that manualoperation is largely dispensed with and it can be left to operate itselfuntil the diaper is clean, at which time the water is cut ofi and thediaper is removed.

It is obvious that more than one diaper can be placed in either of thewashers at one time but it is desirable to wash the diapers promptly.

In Figure 3, cover 9 has attached clear plastic disc 14 riveted to itand a central hole as in Fig. 1. Pipe 27 is clamped in this central holeby means of integral flange 28 and nut 29 screwed onto the threadedpipe. Hollow closed-end cup 30 is rotatably mounted on the end of pipe27, in well known manner as in lawn sprinklers, and communicates withattached, hollow blades 31 having .discharge orifices for water inopposite faces of the blades so that the blades will be revolved by thereaction of downwardly directed jets of water. Therefore if pipe 27 isconnected to a faucet by a suitable hose or pipe, this cover may then beplaced over a casing holding a diaper which will be cleaned by therevolving jets of water. This construction also provides automaticoperation.

in using any of the diaper washers described the hot and cold waterfaucets may be opened to provide an ample stream or streams of water. Ifclouding of the transparent disc occurs, due to condensed moisture, itis helpful to use cold water alone.

It is obvious that many changes of detail may readily be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

An article of manufacture conipri'singa di'ape'r' washer, including: acasing having a cylindrical portion and a bottom portion slopingdownwardly toward a central drain opening therein, a closed-end pipehaving its axis substantially at right angles to the axis of saidcylindrical portion and passing through a hole in said cylindricalportion, said pipe having a flange thereon inside said casing and theprojecting exterior portion of said pipe being threaded, a nut on saidexterior p'ortionclamping said casing against said flange, the closedend of said pipe being situated substantially at the axis of saidcasing, said pipe having holes downwardly directed with their axes in aplane which is at an acute angle to the vertical for discharge of fluidtherefrom, a circular apertured rack below said pipe and concentric withsaid cylindrical casing portion, a stub shaft attached to said rackbeneath and concentric therewith, a bearing post for said shaft attachedto said cylindrical portion, said stub shaft being detachably mounted insaid bearing post, said pipe holes being positioned to discharge fluiddownward upon a diaper held by said rack to cause rotation thereof, aloosely fitting cover for said casing, said cover comprising an annularouter portion having a depending rim with upturned bead and a centraltransparent disc riveted to said annular portion, the upper edge of saidcasing having a down-turned bead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 383,110 Drake May 22, 1888 1,264,792 Hayward Apr. 30, 19181,382,915 Huggins June 28, 1921 1,441,816 Luttrell Jan. 9, 19231,623,182 Harvey Apr. 5, 1927 1,795,376 Paul Mar. 10, 1931 1,869,510Saunders Aug. 2, 1932 2,168,770 Gunn Aug. 8, 1939 2,321,435 Swartz June8, 1943 2,329,623 Judy Sept. 14, 1943 2,348,102 Baker May 2, 19442,562,076 Weisselberg July 24, 1951

